Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-27
MARIE REGNAU,.r-s muupru,
The strange story os Pranxini- DctaiI.
Of his Crimse.

OF his Criune.
Pranzini, the man who murdered Marie Regnault
I'm Paris was born In Alexandra, Rgypt o, Italian
extraction, IN 1855 His father, who was man
Of honor, held position in the civil service. HIS
mother Is still living, and his sister II the wife q
distinguished Egyptian engineer. lie was edu-
Gated by the Christian Brothers, and afterwari
entered an English boarding-school lie spoke
over a dozen languages with vernacuar nuency.
He was first employed by NJ. NJ. Korcling CO,
bankers, Alexandria, and afterward entered the
general post-office at Cairo from which. In the
early part Of 1871 he was summarfly discharged
for stealing the contents OF letters and was sen
fenced 10 a years Imprisonment for the onens..
As soon as he LETT prison, however, he found no
difficulty in becoming the business agent at Cairo
OF several important business houses In AleNan-
andria-
lie next drifted around the Turkish ports on the
Mediterranean, and then entered the service of
Gen. skooelel as courier. sent by the general 20
accompany his mother ON her Journey from Bul-
garia 10 Russia, lac disappeared from the scene
simultaneously with the Old ladys mysterious
murder by the generals aide-de-camp, as She was
making her Journey I'm "A diligence. The untortu-
nate lady's head WAS literally severed from her
body. caskeJ containing lewelry disappeared,
and was never afterward found. lie then ~ent 10
India, and Travelled as Interpreter 10 a party &C
merchants, with whom he returned 10 Europe,
ana after leaving there he became Conductor II
The sleeping-car company on the trains running
between Calais and Brlndisi. lie was, however,
discharged alter few months service for stealing
the diamonds OF lady travelling IN his car
INTERPRETERS TO LORD woIsEIEy
In 1854 he returned 10 Egypt and accompanied
Lord Wolseley's expedition TO the Soudan az in-
terpreter. lie next turned up In Paris as profess
sional blackmaieT selecting his victims usually
women OF middle age HIS personal appearance
war OF great service 10 him In this peculiar calling.
lie Was above the average French stature, With
coal-black hair, a carefully trimmed beard, ex-
ceedlnEly small and Geii, atcly formed hands and
quiet ana somcwh hat efIemnaIe manner and
Ter ne an ned
ordinary muscular strength. In fact IL was his
extraordinary musculanty which seems 90 have
Dten MS main attraction 10 women. His CORE
sponuence, which WAS secured after his arrest.
shows That many who had fallen prey TO his per.
sistent ad, ahees We're ladies OF high rank and also
a young American lady, the daughter OF New
York banker. IL Is believed that he murdered
Marie Regnault in order that he might secure
money enough 10 come To this country and marry
the bankers daughter Though Marie Regnauit
was oil the demi-monde she was OF a thrtf n dlspo-
sltlon, and, as her lovers had mostly been men II
wealth, she had accumulated quite a handsome
property, besides large quantity Of valuable lew
els She had come under the fascination OF Pran.
regard.
THE STORY OF THE MURDER.
On the morning OF the 18th OF March the cook
on entering the nat through the kitchen was hur
rfied TO md the corpses OF Anne Gremeret ana her
little girl In one room and Marie Regnault IN
another, each OF them with their throats cut with
mat fearfully deep stroke which the soudene-e
rebels Know so We'll PranZini was arrested few
days later at Marseilles where attention had been
attracted toward him by the lavish manner IN
which he was bestowing jewels on the common
women OF the town. Although the evidence
against Pranznl was OF a purely clrcumstanIlai
nature yet the following points SO strong that
his conviction was matter OF certainty ne WAS
found al Marseilles with the dead woman's lew.
cry the purchase or peculiarly shaped knife
Two days before the crime the purchase OF a false
beard on the afternoon OF March IL; an Immense
ana deep scratch on the thigh, evidently infected
Dy the victim on her naked assassin when In her
death throes; traces OF blood on his clothes; his
attempt 10 commit suicide when arrested the
nault jewels In the tollet-room at the grand
stand OF the LongchaInps race-course; and, lastly
Tue confession OF his mistress, Nine. Sabatler
NINE. Sabatier first tried TO shield him by saying
that he was with her on the fatal night but when
ole OF MS letters 10 Marie was presented TO her
wherein she was spoken Of as the sslearned wo.
man, she revenged herself 10y recalling her inst
testimony, and saying that on the morning Of
March IL Pranzini, who had been absent all night
came 10 her ana begged her not 10 tell that he had
Deen away, stating that while hidden In a cum
board at house In the Rue Montaigne he had been
tne inviting witness or terrible crime and that
he was afraid he would have trouble with the
police on the subject
Pranzini asserted his Innocence during the whole
tllne OF the trial, and took an appeal TO higher
court, which was denied. Nine Sabat.er appears
10 nave relened OF her action, for she went 20 see
PRESIDENT Greyy and begged pardon for her former
lover. III would appear That during the affecting
interview, In obedience 10 NJ Greyys skiIful Ques-
uonlng, the mistress OF PranZlni threw new light
upon The undoubted guilt OF the prisoner. Her
gfleI Was such, however, that the president told
her 10 oe hopeful, and there was, even at the last
some chance OF Pranzini escaping the guillotine.